I recently had the opportunity to chat with author and screenwriter Michael Okon. Michael is getting set to release his SciFi Paranormal Fantasy novel “Monsterland” on October 13 and I had a few questions for him. Take it away, Mike!

What authors and/or books made an impression on you as a youngster?

Michael Crichton has stuck with me the longest. I can remember where I was and how I felt when I would read Jurassic Park, Congo, Rising Run, and The Andromeda Strain.

I see on your website that you’re both an author and a screenwriter. Do you prefer one to the other? And do you approach them differently when you begin to write?

I love the art of both. All my stories begin as a rough screenplay. I have to beat out my character arcs before I even begin to write. Once I finish the script, I then dive into the novel and flesh out all the character tics that I couldn’t before.

Do you have a regular writing routine (so many pages per day, for example) or are you more of a “when the mood hits” writer?

Research and development all day. Write every night with the Travel Channel or Food Network on mute in the background. I stop for an hour on Friday night if my wife and I have a date night, otherwise its writing every night.

Have you always been a fan of horror and fantasy novels? What sparked your interest in those genres?

I actually do not enjoy horror novels. I’m not into super gore or gratuitous violence. I definitely did not want to convey that in Monsterland. Fantasy on the other hand is all right in my book. I’m a Lord of the Rings guy. Monsterland is not horror or even fantasy for that matter. Monsterland is a monster book, plain and simple. I’ve always had a fascination with monsters since as far back as I can remember.

I’m a sucker for Law of Attraction books. I’m also a huge movie buff. I try to fit in one movie a day, even if it’s a movie I’ve seen a dozen times already. I can cook a perfect rare rib eye. And I started lifting weights again – health is very important to me.

Michael Okon is a bestselling author and screenwriter. His newly revised book, Monsterland, is scheduled for release on October 15. Michael invites readers to connect with him on his website.

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About Robert Germaux

Both my parents were readers. I'm talking stacks-of-books-on-their-nightstands readers. So it's no surprise that an early age, I, too, became an avid reader. Everything from sports books (especially baseball) to Nancy Drew to the Hardy Boys to almost anything about distant and exotic places. And although I've always enjoyed putting words on paper, the writer in me didn't fully emerge until I retired after three decades of teaching high school English. I quickly wrote two books aimed at middle school readers, at which point my wife urged me to try a novel for adults. As is usually the case, Cynthia's idea was a good one. Over the next few years, I wrote several books about Pittsburgh private eye Jeremy Barnes, including "Hard Court" and the recently released "In the Eye." I also wrote "Small Talk" and "One by One," both featuring Pittsburgh police detective Daniel Hayes. Along the way, I took a brief hiatus from the detective genre to write "The Backup Husband," the plot line of which came to me one day when I was playing the What-if game. On that particular day, the question that occurred to me was, What if a woman suddenly realized she might be in love with two wonderful men? I also tried my hand at writing humorous essays, which resulted in "Grammar Sex (and other stuff)" and its sequel, "More Grammar Sex." Coming soon is "Small Bytes," the first Jeremy Barnes novel, to be followed by two other JB mysteries, "Leaving the LAW" and "Speak Softly."
In our spare time, Cynthia and I enjoy reading (of course), seeing Broadway plays and musicals, watching reruns of our favorite TV shows, such as "Sports Night" and "The Gilmore Girls," and traveling to some of those distant and exotic places I used to read about as a child. So far, we've been fortunate enough to walk in the sands of Waikiki, swim in the warm waters of the South Pacific and enjoy a romantic dinner in Paris.
I love interacting with my readers and getting their input on my stories and characters. Please feel free to contact me at Germaux1@aol.com